A coalition of 56 Democratic lawmakers, led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Reps Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Lateefah Simon (D-CA), sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer condemning what they describe as the “most significant rollback of disability employment protections” in decades. The lawmakers criticized Chavez-DeRemer for proposing to eliminate key provisions of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act—such as hiring goals, data collection, and enforcement mechanisms for federal contractors—while also cutting staff and budgets for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Office of Disability Employment. They argued these changes would reduce accountability, limit job opportunities for people with disabilities, and increase dependence on government benefits. The letter further denounced the continued use of subminimum wage certificates under Section 14(c) and the removal of equal opportunity rules in apprenticeship programs, accusing Chavez-DeRemer of dismantling bipartisan progress that has expanded economic inclusion for disabled workers. The lawmakers requested a formal explanation by December 11, 2025.
The challenge of moving special education out of the Education Department
POLITICO Advocates for children with disabilities — and even some Republican lawmakers — are warning that the federal government needs to preserve its special education programs as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the Education Department. Education...
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